Manually operated rotary shaver



July 21, 1964 w. c. GWINN 3,141,240

MANUALLY OPERATED ROTARY SHAVER 7 Filed Aug. 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l INV EN TOR. W/L L IAM c. GW/A/Af July 21, 1964 w. c. GWINN MANUALLY OPERATED ROTARY SHAVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1962 FIG- 13- FIG. 12.

INVENTOR. WALL/4M c. w/mv ,477'OENEYS.

July 21, 1964 W. C. GWINN MANUALLY OPERATED ROTARY SHAVER Filed Aug. 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /6 J3 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM c. GW/A/Af United States Patent 3,141,240 MANUALLY QPERATED RUTARY SHAVER Wiiiiam C. Gwinn, 915 4th St, St. Marys, W. Va. Filed Aug. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 216,157 10 Ciaims. (CI. 30-43) This invention relates to shaving devices, and more particularly to an automatic manually operated dry shaver of the ratchet-driven type.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved automatic manually operated dry shaver of the ratchet-driven type which is convenient to use, which is independent of any external power supply, and Which is relatively inexpensive to fabricate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic manually operated dry shaver of the ratchet-driven type which is durable in construction, which is compact in size, which is easy to assemble, which requires a minimum number of moving parts, which has a retractible shaving head, and which does not require an electric motor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved manually operated automatic dry shaver of the ratchet-driven type which is smooth in operation, which is free of vibration, and which operates smoothly and silently.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an automatic dry shaver constructed in accordance with the present invention illustrating the manner in which it is held in the hand during use.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of theshaver of FIG- URE 1 in inverted position with its shaving head in extended position.

FIGURE 3 is another perspective view of the device of FIGURES 1 and 2, with the device shown in inverted position.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3 in upright position.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view taken in the same manner as FIGURE 4 but showing the shaving head in its retracted housed position.

FIGURE '6 is an enlarged top plan view of the device of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the shaver with the shaving head thereof in its extended position and with its starting handle in its engaged operating position.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantiaily on the line 88 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 99 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is an exploded view showing all of the elements of the drive mechanism of the shaver of FIG- URES 1-9.

FIGURE 11 is an exploded view of the starting handle of the shaver and members associated therewith.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the drive gear member and associated elements, as employed in the shaver of FIGURES 1-11.

FIGURE 13 is atop plan view of the starting handle and associated members, with the handle in its rest position, as employed in the shaver of FIGURES 1-12.

FIGURE 14 is a top plan view of the starting handle and associated members, of FIGURE 13, showing the handle as it is moved through its arc of operation.

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken through the shaving head of the shaver of FIGURES 1-14.

FIGURE 16 is an exploded view showing the various elements of the shaving head assembly of FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged fragmentaryperspective view showing the shaving head locking lever and associated elements, as employed in the shaver of FIGURES 1-16, the elements being shown in separated positions.

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view showing the lockinglever and associated elements in relation to the retractible shaving head and illustrating the manner in which the locking lever is engageable with an edge portion of a locking plate associated with the shaving head to lock said head in its retracted position.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1-5, 11 generally designates an automatic dry shaver constructed in accordance with the present invention. The shaver 11 generally comprises a housing in two sections, namely, a main casing 12 and a frontal plate 13, a shaving head 14, and a hand lever 15. The shaving head 14 is hingedly connected to the frontal plate 13 by the hinge assembly 16, said hinge assembly being located so that the shaving head assembly 14 may be at times folded into the shaver. When the shaving head is in its extended position, for example, as illustrated in FIGURES 1-4, 6 and 7, a pinion gear 17 provided on the assembly extends through a cog aperture 18 in the frontal plate 13, the pinion gear engaging with the driving mechanism, as will be presently described.

As shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, the hand lever 15 is pivoted on a transverse bolt 19 which is fastened by a nut 19 in holes provided in casing 12 and the frontal plate 13. A coiled torsion spring 22 surrounds shaft 19, one end of which engages casing 12 and the other end of which engages the handllever 15 so that when the hand lever is pushed inwardly, biasing torque is developed in torsion spring 22 to urge the hand lever back toward a rest position, wherein a lug of the-lever engages a stop flange 76 on the casing.

The hand lever 15 is integrally formed with sector gear segment Ed. The hand lever also has a channeled pivot portion 15' through which the shank of bolt19 extends. A washer 16' is provided on bolt 19 between its head and the top arm of pivot portion 15'. Another washer 17' is provided on the reduced threaded bottom end of the bolt 19 between nut 19 and the bottom end of the channeled pivot portion 15. The sector gear segment. 20 meshingly engages adrive gear '21 which is rotatably mounted on a bolt 23, said bolt 23 having a threaded end portion 74' and being secured in respective apertures provided in casing 12 and frontal plate 13 by a nut 26' engaged on end portion '74. Drive gear 21 is provided at its bottom side with an arm 24 to which is pivoted a pawl 25, and to which is secured a biasing magnet 26, as shown in FIGURE 12. Pawl 25 is of magnetic material and is urged by the biasing magnet 26'toward a position of engagement with a ratchet wheel 27, said .ratchet wheel being provided with a sleeve like hub 28 which is suitably journaled on the reduced intermediate portion 23' of the bolt 23, and which is rigidly secured at its base portion to the supporting hub of a fly wheel 29. A washer 24' is provided on bolt portion 23' between arm 24 and ratchet wheel 27. Ratchet wheel 27, and consequently fly wheel 29 rotate on ball bearings'SO, forming part of a bearing assembly interposed between the sleeve like member 23 and the intermediate portion of the bolt 23. The hub portion 31 of fiy wheel 29 is provided with a gear 52 which is meshinglyengageable with the driven head pinion gear 17 when the shaving head is in its extended position.

The starting handle assembly, as shown in detail in FIGURES 11, 13 and 14, comprises agenerally circular base 33, a starting handle 34, a coil spring 35, a ratchettoothed inner sleeve 36, and a ratchet-toothed outer sleeve 37, said outer sleeve being provide-d with a top to the circular base member 33.

wall which is centrally apertured and internally threaded in its central aperture, as shown at 80. The circular base 33 has a central bearing sleeve 73 which is rotatably mounted on the bottom reduced portion 74 of bolt 23 adjacent to fly wheel gear 32. Base 33 is generally panshaped, but its bottom is partially cut away at 77 so that it may admit head pinion gear 17 to allow said pinion gear to engage with fly wheel gear 32, and so that it may rotate in an are without contacting head pinion gear 17. The rotation of circular base 33 is limited by the engagement of the end edge 78 of said opening with a lug 39 formed on frontal plate 13 adjacent to cog aperture 13. Starting handle 34 is pivotally mounted on circular base 33, its angle of rotation being limited by the size of a notch 38 cut in the peripheral wall of base 33 through which said handle 34 extends. As shown in FIGURES 10, 11, 13, and 14, the starting handle 34 is generally L-shaped and arranged with its longer leg extending outwardly, the end of the shorter leg being pivotally connected at 91 The starting handle 34 is provided at its corner portion with a notched lug 92 so located that when the handle 34 is rotated inwardly the notched lug engages with a tooth of fly wheel gear 32.

Frontal plate 13 is provided with a frusto-conical wall 95 formed with an elongated slot 64 extending in the circumferential direction of wall 95, the starting handle 34 extending through said slot 64.

Engaged on the central sleeve-like hub 73 is a ratchettoothed sleeve member 36. The sleeve member 36 is cylindrical in shape and surrounding said sleeve member and fastened at one end thereto is a coil spring 35, the upper end of said spring 35, as viewed in FIGURE 11, being secured to starting handle 34 at the notched lug 92. As will be presently explained, the sleeve 36 is held against rotation and the spring 35 acts to bias handle 34 toward a rest position wherein the lug 92 is disengaged from the fly wheel gear 32.

The ratchet-toothed sleeve 36 is disposed within and lockingly engaged with the teeth of a mating ratchettoothed sleeve 37. Toothed sleeve 37 is generally cylindrical in shape and is formed at its upper portion with the integral ratchet teeth mating with the ratchet teeth formed on the top rim of sleeve 36, so that when he sleeve 36 is housed inside the sleeve 37 said sleeve 36 is lockingly engaged with and held against rotation relative to the sleeve 37. Sleeve 37 is provided with a top wall formed with a central aperture having internal threads 80 which are threadedly engaged on similar threads 82 provided on the portion 23 of bolt 23, thus securing the toothed sleeve 37 to the bolt and holding said toothed sleeve rigid relative to said bolt with respect to the direction of rotation of fly wheel 29.

The top end of the spring 35, as viewed in FIGURE 14, is formed with a generally V-shaped loop 93 whose inner arm bears against an upstanding pin 94 formed on the base member 33, whereby the outer leg of loop 93 biases handle 34 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 13, mainly toward a position wherein it engages the upper end of the notch 38.

The shaving head 14, shown in FIGURES 15 and 16, comprises a shaft 39, an internally threaded bushing 40, a hinged supporting member 41, a locking member 42, an outer shell member 43, an inner shell member 44, a flanged sleeve 45, a spring retainer 46, a biasing spring 47, a rotary blade 48, and a stationary face plate 49. Shaft 39 is provided at one end with the head pinion gear 17 which is meshingly engageable with fly wheel gear 32, and at the other end with a squared shaft portion which drivingly engages with rotary blade 48, engaging in a squared aperture 97 provided in the center of said blade. A cotter pin 96 extends through the bottom end portion of squared shaft 50, as shown in FIGURE 15. Shaft 39 is provided with the threaded intermediate portion 51. The shaft 39 extends through the bushing 45,

4 as shown in FIGURE 15, and the threaded portion 51 thereof is threadedly engaged with the spring retainer 46, the retainer 46 and the shaft 39 being freely rotatable in the bushing 49. Thus, the spring retainer 46, the

' spring 47 and the blade 48 all rotate with shaft 39 as head pinion gear 17 is driven. The spring 47 surrounds the shaft portion 59, bearing between the spring retainer 46 and the blade 48, urging the blade 48 against the stationary face plate 49, so that the blade 48 is shearingly cooperable with the face plate 39 as the blade rotates. The face plate 49 is formed with relatively narrow radial slots 98 and the blade 49 is formed with the knives 99 which are urged against the radially slotted portion of face plate 49 and shearingly cooperate therewith.

The function of the locking member 42 is to hold the shaving head 14 in its extended or retracted position, and to provide a means whereby the vents on shell member 43 and 44 may be held closed during operation of the shaver. The locking member 42 is provided with two arms 56 and 59, which are formed by the provision of slots made in the locking member 42, thus giving the arms 56 and 59 a slight amount of resiliency.

Arm 56 and locking member 42 are provided with a depending tab 52 extending perpendicularly from the outer edge of arm 56, and also with a latch element 53, which is lockingly engageable with lock bracket 54 provided on the edge portion of frontal plate 13, as shown in FIGURE 5. The arm 56 of locking member 42 is so arranged that when tab 52 is passed inwardly to flex arm 56, latch 53 disengages from locking bracket 54, and the shaving head 14 may be released from its extended position. When it is desired to lock the shaving head 14 in the extended position, it is merely necessary to push the head down, whereby arm 56 will first yield and then spring back as latch 53 falls into the notch provided in lock bracket 54. The positions of arm 56 and associated members are shown in FIGURES 5, 6, 7, and 18.

Shell members 43 and 44 are each provided in their cylindrical walls with two diametrically opposed apertures 55, 55 and 55, 55', respectively. Outer shell member 43 is rotatable around the flanged sleeve 45, so that apertures 55, 55 and 55, 55' may be made to coincide. Clearing the shaving head 14 of hairs may be accomplished by blowing through the apertures. The outer shell member 43 is then rotated back to its original position. Shell member 43 snaps into this position by the action of arm 56 of locking member 42. Arm 56 is provided with a perpendicularly extending pin 56 (FIG- URE 16) which engages with slot 57 in shell member 43. Slot 57 is so formed that pin 56 slips into a locking position when the shell member 43 is rotated to a position whereby the apertures 55, 55 and 55', 55' are completely out of registry. Thus, the slot 57 is provided with an angled end portion 100 adapted to lockingly engage with the pin member 56' under these conditions.

Locking member 42, inner shell member 44, and flanged sleeve 45 are prevented from rotating with respect to hinged member 41 by means of a keyway provided in flanged sleeve 45 (sleeve 45 is shownin reverse position in FIGURE 16), and a square detachable key member 58. Hinged member 41 and locking member 42 are provided with keyways 81 and 82, while inner shell member 44 is provided with a key 84 which fits directly into the keyway 80 of flanged sleeve 45. The key 58 engages through the keyways 81 and 82 and engages in the keyway 80, resting on the key 84, as shown in FIG- URE 15. The key 58 is locked in position by means of the flanged bushing 40 which overlies the top end of said key 58, as shown in FIGURE 15.

The locking of shaving head 14 into a retracted position for storage is provided by a swinging gate feature in the hand lever 15. As shown in FIGURES 17 and 18, hand lever 15 comprises a handle arm 60 and a gate piece 61, said gate piece being pivotally connected to handle arm 60 by means of a bolt 62 in such a manner that gate piece 61 can spring outwardly from the body of the shaver but not inwardly. Gate piece 61 is urged toward a position aligned with arm 60 by the action of a biasing spring 22. As shown in FIGURE 18, the spring 22 surrounds a post member 62' secured in the casing 12, one end of the spring bearing against the side wall of the casing and the other end of the spring bearing against the stop lug 101 provided on the gate piece 61 for limiting the inward swinging movement of said gate piece. A flange 63 is provided on gate piece 61, said flange being engageable over the edge of locking plate 42 when the shaving head is in a retracted position and the gate piece of hand lever 15 ispulled out, and the locking plate 42 is released.

In using the shaving device, the shaving head 14 is first withdrawn from its retracted position. The gate piece 61 is pulled out, allowing the head to be swung outwardly. The gate piece 61 is then released, and it returns to its rest position under the action of biasing spring 22.

The shaving head 14 snaps into its extended position by means of locking member 42. The head pinion gear 17 meshingly engages with the fly wheel gear 32.

To start the fly wheel, the starting handle 34 is grasped and pulled around in an arc. The notched lug 92 engages the fly wheel gear 32. and causes it to turn, thus causing the fly wheel 29 to turn. Starting handle 34 is released,

and the action of spring 35 causes it to return to a rest position and to disengage the notched lug 92 from the fly wheel gear 32.

The momentum of the fly wheel 29 keeps it turning, as fly wheel gear 32 drives head pinion gear 17.

The speed of the fly wheel 29 is then increased by repeatedly actuating hand lever 15. When said hand lever is pressed inwardly, sector gear 20 causes the drive gear 21 to rotate, and consequently the pawl 25 of the base 24 to drive gear 21 engages and drives ratchet wheel 27. Since the hub 28 of ratchet wheel 27 is anchored to the fly wheel, the fly wheel is driven by the pawl 25 of drive gear 21.

Each time hand lever 15 is pressed inwardly, the speed of the fly wheel 29 increases. When hand lever 15 is released, biasing spring 22 causes it to return to its starting position. During this motion, the direction of drive gear 21 is reversed. Pawl 25 slides back over the teeth of ratchet wheel 27 without any effect.

As the fly wheel turns, fly wheel gear 32 drives head pinion gear 17, causing shaft 39, spring retainer 45, spring 47, and blade 48 to rotate inside the shaving head. When shaving speed is reached, the shaver may be used, requiring only one actuating stroke of the hand lever between each shaving stroke.

After use, the shaving head is cleared of hairs by rotating shell 43 to a position to register the apertures 55, 55 and 55', 55, and blowing through the registering apertures. The shell is then rotated back to its original position and is locked in place by arm 59 by the locking action of the pin 56 on the arm 59 of locking member 42.

For storage, the shaving head is moved to its retracted position. Gate piece 61 is pulled out to allow the locking member 42 to pass, said gate piece being then released to allow flange 63 to engage over said locking member. This locks the shaving head in retracted position.

While a specific embodiment of an automatic dry shaver has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shaving implement, a casing, an apertured face plate mounted on said casing, a cutter rotatably mounted inwardly adjacent said face plate, a fly wheel rotatably mounted in said casing, means drivingly coupling said fly wheel to said cutter, a driving lever pivoted in said casing and having a portion externally exposed to receive driving force, a ratchet wheel connected to said fly wheel, a driving member rotatably mounted in the casing concentrically with said fly wheel, a pawl pivoted to said driving member adjacent said ratchet wheel, said pawl having at least a portion thereof of magnetic material, a magnet on said driving member exerting magnetic force on said last-named portion and located so as to bias said pawl into driving engagement with said ratchet wheel, and means gearingly coupling said driving lever to said driving member.

2. In a shaving implement, a casing, a support member hinged to said casing, a fly wheel rotatably mounted in the casing, a cutter rotatably mounted on the support member, an apertured face plate on said support member externally adjacent said cutter, a driving lever pivoted in said casing and having a portion externally exposed to receive driving force, means to releasably secure said support member in a position adjacent to said casing with the cutter extending outwardly therefrom, and means drivingly coupling said driving lever to said fly wheel when said support member is in said position.

3. In a shaving implement, a casing, a support member hinged to said casing, a fly wheel rotatably mounted in the casing, a cutter rotatably mounted on the support member, an apertured face plate on said support member externally adjacent said cutter, a driving lever pivoted in said casing and having a portion externally exposed to receive driving force, means to releasably secure said support member in a position adjacent to said casing with the cutter extending outwardly therefrom, means drivingly coupling said driving lever to said fly wheel when said support member is in said position, and means to releasably secure said support member in another position wherein the cutter extends inwardly with respect to said casing.

4. In a shaving implement, a casing, a shaving head hinged to said casing, said shaving head being provided with an apertured face plate, a cutter rotatably mounted inwardly adjacent said face plate, and a driven gear drivingly connected to said cutter, a fly wheel rotatably mounted in the casing, a driving lever pivot-ed in said casing and having a portion externally exposed to receive driving force, means drivingly coupling said driving lever to said fly wheel, a driving gear connected to said fly wheel, said driven gear being located to mesh with said driving gear when said shaving head is in a position projecting outwardly from said casing, means to releasably secure said shaving head in said outwardly projecting position, said shaving head being swingable to a retracted position wherein it is substantially reversed in direction from said outwardly projecting position and wherein said driving and driven gears are disengaged from each other, and means to releasably lock the shaving head at times in said retracted position.

5. In a shaving implement, a casing, an apertured face plate mounted on said casing, a cutter rotatably mounted inwardly adjacent said face plate, a fly wheel rotatably mounted in said casing, means drivingly coupling said fly wheel to said cutter, a. driving lever pivoted in said casing and having a portion externally exposed to receive driving force, a ratchet wheel connected to said fly wheel, a driving member rotatably mounted in the casing concentrically with said fly wheel, a pawl pivoted to said driving member adjacent said ratchet wheel, means biasing said pawl into driving engagement with said ratchet wheel, means gearingly coupling said driving lever to said driving member, a starting member rotatably mounted in the casing coaxially with said fly wheel, a starting lever arenaao 7 pivoted on said starting member, and means on said starting lever drivingly engageable with said fly wheel responsive to the application of torque to said starting lever.

6. In a shaving implement, a casing, an apertured face plate mounted on said casing, a cutter rotatably mounted inwardly adjacent said face plate, a fly wheel rotatably mounted in said casing, means drivingly coupling said fly wheel to said cutter, a driving lever pivoted in said casing and having a portion externally exposed to receive driving force, a ratchet wheel connected to said fly wheel, rotatable pawl means engaging said ratchet wheel, means gearingly coupling said driving lever to said pawl means, a starting member rotatably mounted in the casing coaxially with said fly wheel, a starting lever pivoted on said starting member, and means on said starting lever drivingly engageable with said fly wheel responsive to the application of torque to said starting lever.

7. In a shaving implement, a casing, an apertured face plate mounted on said casing, a cutter rotatably mounted inwardly adjacent said face plate, a fly wheel rotatably mounted in said casing, a gear on said fly wheel, means drivingly coupling said gear to said cutter, a driving lever pivoted in said casing and having a portion externally exposed to receive driving force, a ratchet wheel connected to said fly wheel, rotatable pawl means engaging said ratchet wheel, means gearingly coupling said driving lever to said pawl means, a starting member rotatably mounted in the casing coaxially with said fly wheel, a starting lever pivoted on said starting member, and means on said starting lever drivingly engageable with said gear responsive to the application of torque to said starting lever.

8. In a shaving implement, a casing, an apertured face plate mounted on said casing, a cutter rotatably mounted inwardly adjacent said face plate, a fly wheel rotatably mounted in said casing, a gear on said fly wheel, means drivingly coupling said gear to said cutter, a driving lever pivoted in said casing and having a portion externally exposed to receive driving force, a ratchet wheel connected to said fly wheel, a driving member rotatably mounted in the casing concentrically with said fly wheel, a pawl pivoted to said driving member adjacent said ratchet wheel, means biasing said pawl into driving engagement with said ratchet wheel, means gearingly coupling said driving lever to said driving member, a starting member rotatably mounted in the casing coaxially with said fly wheel, a starting lever pivoted on said starting member, and means on said starting lever drivingly engageable with said gear responsive to the application of torque to said starting lever.

9. In a shaving implement, a casing, an apertured face plate mounted on said casing, a cutter rotatably mounted inwardly adjacent said face plate, a fly wheel rotatably mounted in said casing, a gear on said fly wheel, means drivingly coupling said gear to said cutter, a driving lever pivoted in said casing and having a portion externally exposed to receive driving force, a ratchet wheel connected to said fly wheel, rotatable pawl means engaging said ratchet wheel, means gearingly coupling said driving lever to said pawl means, a starting member rotatably mounted in the casing coaxially with said fly wheel, a starting lever pivoted on said startin member, means on said starting lever drivingly engageable with said gear responsive to the application of torque to said starting lever, and spring means biasing said starting lever toward a position disengaging said last-named means from said gear.

10. In a shaving implement, a casing, a shaving head hinged to said casing, said shaving head being provided with an apertured face plate, a cutter rotatably mounted inwardly adjacent said face plate and a driven gear drivingly connected to said cutter, a fly wheel rotatably mounted in the casing, a driving lever pivoted in said casing and having a portion externally exposed to receive driving force, means drivingly coupling said driving lever to said fly wheel, a driving gear connected to said fly wheel, said driven gear being located to mesh with said driving gear when said shaving head is in a position projecting outwardly from said casing, means to releasably secure said shaving head in said position, a starting member rotatably mounted in the casing coaxially with said fly wheel, a starting lever pivoted on said starting member, and means on said starting lever drivingly engageable with said fly wheel responsive to the application of torque to said starting lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,076,960 Netsche Apr. 13, 1937 2,311,552 Law Feb. 16, 1943 2,458,248 Bujan Jan. 4, 1949 2,547,077 Evans Apr. 3, 1951 2,935,789 Kleinman May 10, 1960 3,069,772 Roseeing July 1, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 982,844 France Jan. 31, 1951 1,137,269 France Jan. 14, 1957 569,468 Italy Nov. 20, 1957 218,157 Sweden Mar. 2, 1942 283,154 Sweden Sept. 16, 1952 

1. IN A SHAVING IMPLEMENT, A CASING, AN APERTURED FACE PLATE MOUNTED ON SAID CASING, A CUTTER ROTATABLY MOUNTED INWARDLY ADJACENT SAID FACE PLATE, A FLY WHEEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CASING, MEANS DRIVINGLY COUPLING SAID FLY WHEEL TO SAID CUTTER, A DRIVING LEVER PIVOTED IN SAID CASING AND HAVING A PORTION EXTERNALLY EXPOSED TO RECEIVE DRIVING FORCE, A RATCHET WHEEL CONNECTED TO SAID FLY WHEEL, A DRIVING MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE CASING CONCENTRICALLY WITH SAID FLY WHEEL, A PAWL PIVOTED TO SAID DRIVING MEMBER ADJACENT SAID RATCHET WHEEL, SAID PAWL HAVING AT LEAST A PORTION THEREOF OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL, A MAGNET ON SAID DRIVING MEMBER EXERTING MAGNETIC FORCE ON SAID LAST-NAMED PORTION AND LOCATED SO AS TO BIAS SAID PAWL INTO DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RATCHET WHEEL, AND MEANS GEARINGLY COUPLING SAID DRIVING LEVER TO SAID DRIVING MEMBER. 